
pmid: 15642459
A novel biocidal photocatalytic nanocomposite, composed of TiO(2) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), was synthesized via wet chemistry followed by a heat treatment. Uniform anatase coatings on MWNTs were successfully obtained with a thickness of a few nanometers. The nanostructure of the composite was determined by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The needle-like shape of the nanocomposite provided more than three times higher photocatalytic specific surface area than commercial TiO(2) nanoparticles (Degussa P25) when dispersed in water. Moreover, under ultraviolet (UV) radiation the excited electrons can be trapped at the interface between the TiO(2) layer and MWNTs and they can also be scavenged through the conductive graphitic layers. Thus, an intense photochemical reaction yielding a powerful biocide can be expected. Irradiating bacterial endospores (Bacillus cereus) with solar UV lamps in presence of the novel photocatalyst successfully inactivated the spores while solar UV lamps only or solar UV Lamps with Degussa P25 showed no significant inactivating behavior. Performance of photocatalytic nanocomposites was assessed based on time to achieve 90% inactivation of spores (LD(90)) and also in terms of time required to achieve a 1.0 log(10) reduction of spores in the tail region of the inactivation curve.
Spores, Bacterial, Titanium, Titania, Nanocomposite, Photosensitizing Agents, Time Factors, Photochemistry, Photocatalytic, Carbon nanotube, Carbon, Catalysis, Nanostructures, X-Ray Diffraction, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Endospores, Animals
Spores, Bacterial, Titanium, Titania, Nanocomposite, Photosensitizing Agents, Time Factors, Photochemistry, Photocatalytic, Carbon nanotube, Carbon, Catalysis, Nanostructures, X-Ray Diffraction, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Endospores, Animals
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 103 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
